The controversial 'Uplift Harris' guaranteed income program has been a huge topic in Harris County for the last two years or so. The program would give 1,500 low-income families $500 a month to aid in expenses. The $20 million boondoggle would be funded entirely by leftover pandemic-era relief money for at least the first round. If it were to continue after that runs out, it would then be funded by John Q. Taxpayer.
It has been the brainchild of County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Commissioner Rodney Ellis, mostly in efforts to pander for votes. Since its inception though, the program has faced a lawsuit from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who says the program is a misuse of state funds. The Texas Supreme Court also this year issued a stay order, effectively halting the program while Paxton's lawsuit plays out.
But Hidalgo and the Democrats on the court simply do not care. They have given new life now to the program, as they are set to vote on a new version of it on Thursday. That after they advanced it out of committee by a 4-1 vote at their last meeting. Once again, the program no one wants is back on the block.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result. Charles Blain of Urban Reform says this fits that billing.
"They are trying to resurrect this thing from the dead like Frankenstein...and I do not understand why, because in all likelihood, it will just be shot down again by the Attorney General," he says.
Paxton has made a concerted effort to go after Hidalgo for her actions as County Judge, including a Texas Ranger investigation into her alleged big rigging scheme. It would be almost certain he would file another lawsuit against the program and tangle it up once again.
This new version they will vote on too, while it has some changes, is just the same old nonsense.
"They are retooling the program, using debit cards, and limiting what recipients can purchase with the money...doing all these reforms in hopes that it becomes compliant with state law," he says. "We will see if that works, but I have high doubt that it will."
With just one Republican on the court, the new version is surely expected to pass. Whether or not Lina Hidalgo has another temper tantrum outburst while doing so though remains to be seen.
Not to mention as well, $500 a month in the current Biden economy does not stretch very far. It might pay for a week or so of groceries for a family, but that is it. Studies of these similar programs too show that families save less, and still spend more, so the idea this will help Houstonians in a significant way is delusional.
All of this happening while the county is in a budget and staffing crisis. The $20 million being shelled out for this could instead be used to fix that, or something that is actually productive.
"You can create a workforce development program for a fraction of the cost this will be...and give people tools to then make money themselves," says Blain.
The Commissioner's will vote on what they dubbed 'Uplift Harris 2.0' on Thursday.